Knitting machine



Patented Dec. 1 9, 1939 .LPATIENTI', oFFicE I Benjamin Hppman and Julius Hppman,

Brookly muaaon m 1, 193a, Scl'lll No. 216,882

11 Claims. (01. ee--11)T This invention relates to knitting machines of the flat and links and links type.

One object of this invention is to provide a knitting machine of the character described having improved means for automaticallychanging the tension of the stitches at a desired point along a line of knitting, to thus produce a fabric having a section tensioned transversely of the lines of knitting. Heretofore articles such assweaters having in-- tegral tensioned c'ufis have been provided with the lines of knitting being horizontal, that is, lengthwise of the cufl. -We perceived that the design possibilities of a sweater having vertical lines of knitting and consequently adapted for decorative vertical ribs or stripes, were considerable. :But it was considered in' the art that such a sweater could not be produced on any known machine." It is therefore an object of the invention to I provide such a sweater andv also 'an apparatus 'and method of producing the same on a quantity 39 intermittently during the operation of the ma-- chine.

Another object' of the invention is to provide such tension adjusting meanswhicli are settable to influence the tension in varying degrees and/or at different points along the bed'of the machine,

and even to provide for graduated tension effects if desired.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improvements of the nature set forth 3 which shall be inexpensive to manufacture, ap-

. plicable toa knitting machine without change in'the construction thereof. and which shall be j convenient to adjust, accurate in operation, durable, efiicient and reliable in use, and permit the knitting machine to otherwise operate in theusual manner and for the usual purposes. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as thespeciflcation proceeds.

. With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention' consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of p hereinafter described in their preferred em ents, pointed out in the subjoined claims,and illus'trated in the annexed. drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the cam head of a knitting machine showing our 5 improvements in connection therewith, according' to an embodiment of the invention, with the bed of the machine shown in dot-dash lines. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken on lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. 1. 10

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a body portion of a sweater showing a sample of the material knitted the same structure, but, useful devices may be "produced embodying less than the whole. 20

'It will be obvious to those skilled in the artto which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. fl'he accompanying drawing, therei'ore,--is submitted merely as showing the pre- 26 ferred exempliflcation of the inventio Referring in detail to the drawing, Ill denotes a knitting machine of the flat or links and links type embodying the invention. The same may include a conventional knitting machine of the 30 type referred to having an elongated bed or frame Ii grooved to contain transversely reciprocating needles and jacks I! for controlling the same. Reciprocable along the bed member II is a head ll comprising a cam head II for the front of 85 the machine and a cam head I! for the rear of the machine, movable as a unit. These cam heads actuate the jacks I: to cause the knitting operation upon each run or stroke of the machine.

purposes of this invention-.,both-heads l4, l5 may cam positions shown are taken with the cam head I: movingtoward the left as shown by the 1.5 1 arrow it so that the-jacks travel in the cam' grooves as shown by the arrow i1; and that the cams II, I! are settable for controlling the of the loops or stitches and hence the'tension. thereof, and that in the position'shown, these =50 cams are set for stitches of maximum size. It may be noted that when the cam head I! travels toward the left, the right hand cam I! is actually controlling the size of the stitches knitted, whereas when the cam head I! is traveling to the right,

It will be unnecessary to describe the '40- cam head -further than to point out that for the the left hand cam I8 is actually controlling'the size of the stitches. Further, it will be perceived that as the cams l8, l9 move toward the center of the machine, the throw of the jacks and consequently of the needles is diminished and hence the needles draw less yarn and form smaller and consequently tighter stitches.

One conventional manner of mounting and controlling the cams l8, I9 is to arrange them for sliding movement as in grooves and to hold them in place as by a headed member 2| extending through a slot 22 in the head plate 23 of the cam head. A tension coil spring 24 may be connectedto the plate 23 and to the member 2| of each cam l8, l9 to move the same to the position for causing the formation of large stitches. Any suitable means such as a stop or set screw (not shown) is'normally used to set the'cams l8, l9 inward in adjusted position against the tension of the springs 24, whereby stitches of a desired size or tension are uniformly formed throughout the path of reciprocation of the cam head.

According to the present invention, improved means are provided whereby the tension or size of the stitches need not be the same throughout thepath of reciprocation of the'cam head, but may vary at one or more points, whereby an article such as the sleeveless sweater 25 may be produced. The latter is characterized by vertical lines of knitting, instead of by horizontal lines of knitting, if the garment is turned 90 degrees from the position in which it leaves the machine, and nevertheless includes one or more transversely tensioned sections such as the neck and shoulder portions 26 and the cuff 21 integral with the waist portion 28, a result which could not'heretofore be accomplished. This sweater is more particularly described and claimed in our copending patent application thereon. Suffice it to indicate that the same permits the use of much more decorative vertical ribs or stripes than the horizontal ribs or stripes heretofore used. The improvements that will now be described permit the manufacture of the sweater 25 on a quantity production basis.

Our improvements referred to include a means mounted on the cam head for moving the cams l8, l9 against the tension of their springs 24, For example, arms 30, 3| for the respective cams l8, I9 are pivotally mounted at 32 on the plate 23 in position to engage the heads 33 of the members 2|. Mounted on the bed or frame H of the machine is another means in relatively fixed relation to the cam head and including a pair of elongated guide or cam members Illa. Ila extending longitudinally of 'each other andoilset or staggered and longitudinally overlapping each other. The members 3011, ila constitute a means occupying only a portion of the path of reciprocation of the cam head, the members being of equal length, which length is the width of the tensioned band or section to be knitted. The.

member 20a is in the plane 'of the arm III, and the member Ila is above the same, with its arm 3| offset as at 32 to lie in the plane thereof. The members "a, Sla may be secured to the frame ll-asatfl. 1

It will be noted that a graduated change in stitch tension may be produced by suitably shaping the cams a, 3 la, as by means of the inclines 34, 35 which the arms 30,3! first engage. a v

A particular advantage of our invention is that in knitting various colors, fewer yarn carriers are needed for the (1113mm 901913 1 h colors be formed longitudinally of the lines of knitting, instead of crosswise thereof as heretofore. It will be understood that in knitting sweaters the style requirements are that color stripes ought to extend vertically and not horizontally thereof. Therefore it is better that the colors extend coursewise. Thus the machine operation is greatly simplified,

In operation, the arm 30 coacts with the member 30a and the arm 3| coacts with the arm (Ha. Assume that the cam head is moving toward the left, both arms 30, 3| are moved by their members 30a, 3la. to cause inward movement of the cams l8, l9, but only the right hand cam I9 is operative to reduce the size of the stitches for increased tension. Similarly, the left hand cam I8 is, effective when the cam head moves toward the right, although both cams are actuated by the members 3011, 3la. It will now be perceived that the reason for the offset relation of the members 30a, 3hr is that the cams l8, l9 be to act at spaced points, and the amount of set is determined by that spacing, since the knitting of a tension band in a fabric between parallel lines required that the action of the cams l8, l9 begin and end at such lines for each run of the cam head and in both directions of the runs.

It will be appreciated that more than one means 36a, 3la may be provided along said path of reciprocation, and at any point or points thereof, and that any width of tensioned band may be knitted, and that the cams l8, l9 may be variously actuated, for instance, to normally cause tight instead of loose stitching to be formed as herein described. For instance, the means 24 maybe regarded as moving these cams in one direction and the means 30a, 3m and 30, 3| as moving the cams in an opposite direction. Then again, the elements 24, 30, 3|, 30a, and 3Ia may be regarded as a single means having portions to control the cams so that they are efi'ective to begin and end operation at two parallel' lines for knitting a band with the machine knitting on both runs of the cam head; or the means referred to being operable to control the cams to change their setting as a result of the move-.

ment of the cam head, with the change occurring intermittently and regularly during a run of the cam head to knit asectionhaving substantially different stitch tension than adjoining sections of thefabric.

In Fig. 5 is shown a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention including a device 4| whereby only a front set of cam members 30a, 3la need be used, and whereby, if desired, only one tensioning adjustment may be made for the front and back of the machine. For example, the actuator extensions 23 of the cams ll, I9 are operated by standards 42, '43 having racks- 44 interengaged by a pinion 45 having a fixed axis.

The standards 42, 43 may each have set screws 46 having plates 41 for bearing on the elements 33. On the standard 42 is a fixed finger 48 to follow one of the cams 30a or ila. Asimilar device including parts 42 to 41 and having a finger 0 which follows the other of the earns "a, Sin.

Ii desired, the latter may be mounted on an angle plate I! on a frame member 5|, interconnected by a set screw 52. By adjusting the latter, the setting is equally changed for both the front and rear standards 42, 43 or the same may be set by individual-adjustment of their set 'Iscrews 4, as in some cases, it is desired that the front of the mac ine shall knit at different tension than the rear thereof. Otherwise the operation is the same as that forthe machine 10.

We claim:

1. A knitting machine including a cam head rcciprocable along a path to actuate neeedle controlling jacks, said cam head comprising spaced settable cams for causing the forming stitches of different sizes, and means for moving said cams in different directions for the setting movement thereof, one of said cams being operative in one direction of movement of the .cam head and the other cam being operative in the opposite direction of movement of the cam head, said means including elongated guide members for the respective cams extending along said path, said guide membersoverlapping in longitudinally offset relation to each other and being in relatively stationary relation to the cams whereby one guide member actuates one cam in one direction and the other guide member actuates its cam in the opposite direction of movement of the cam head, and said guide members occupying only a portion of the path of the cam head and cooperating with the cams to cause the knitting of a fabric section defined by straight lines transverse to the lines of knitting, which section has a different stitch tension than ad- .jacent parts of the knitted fabric. 1

elongated guide members extending along said path and being longitudinally offset in overlapping relation to each otherand. being fixed relative to thecam head,one of said members controlling one cam and the other the other cam, elements pivoted on the cam head andcoacting with the individual members for respective control of the cams, said members occupying a limited portion of said path.

3. A knitting machine including a cam headv reciprocable along a path, said cam head having spaced settable cams for controlling the needle actuating jacks to govern the size of the stitches formed by the needles, the cams being operative for thus controlling the jacks in different respective directions of movement of the cam head, and means for controlling the setting movement of said cams so as to change the setting thereof at a portion of said path, said means including a first means and a second means respectively controlling said cams according as the cam head moves in one or an opposite direction to cause the cams to control the size of the stitches, both the first and second means having a like length of control of the cams in course of movement of the cam head along its path, and said first and second means cooperating with said cams so that the paths of control of said cams by the firstand second means are offset in overlapping relation to each other to cause the knitting of a uniform band transverse of the lines of knitting and characterized by a stitching tension different than that of adjacent portions of the knitted fabric produced by the machine. A

4. A knitting machine according to claim 3, wherein said first and second means have cam coaction with said cams for a graduated change 'in' stitching tension.-

5. A knitting machine according to claim 3, including rack and pinion means interengaging the tension causing cams at the front .and rear of the machine, and cooperating with said first and second means to cause movementoi said cams.

' 6. A knitting machine according to claim 3, including means interposed between said first and second means and the'said cams at the front and rear of the machine, the interposed means having interconnected elements such that a movement of one element causes an equal movement of the other element in opposite direction, said elements carrying individual adjusting means for the cams, and the interposed means being actuable by said first and second means.

'7. A knitting machine accordingto claim 3, including a single means for the tension causing cams at the front and rear of the machine, said single means being interposed between the firstand second means and said cams, the-first and second means being located solely at one side of the machine, means for setting the first and second means for adjustment of said cams, and said single means including means to cause the said cams at the front and rear of the machine to move equally in opposite directions under actuation of the setting means.

8. A knitting machine according to claim 3, wherein the first and second means are located solely at the front of the machine, and means responsive to the first and second means for equally adjusting the-tension causing cams at the front and rear of the'm'achine, including causing adjustment of the cams at the front and rear of the machine by a single adjustment.

9. A knitting machine including a reciprocatory cam head having spaced settable cams for actuating the needles of the machine to govern the size of stitches formed by the needles, the

' cams being operable in different respective directions of .movement of the cam head, and means for controlling the setting movement of. the cams including a first means and a second means respectively controlling said cams according to the direction of movement of the cam head to control stitch sizes, the first and second means cooperating with said cams so that the paths of control of saidcams by the first and second means are offset in overlapping relation to each other longitudinally of the path of the cam head.

10. A knitting machine including a reciprocatory cam head having spaced settable cams for actuating the needles of the machine to govern the size of stitches formed by the needles, the cams being operable in difierent respective directions of movement of the cam head, and means for controlling the setting movement of the cams according to the direction of movement of the cam head to control the stitch sizes, said means being so related in position to the said cams that. the paths of control for' the different cams by said means are offset in overlapping relation to each other longitudinally of the path of the cam head.

11. A knitting machine including a reciprocatory cam head having spaced settable cams for actuating the needles of the machine to" the cams being operable in different respective for the difierent cams by said means are offset directions of movement of the cam head, and in overlapping relation to each other longitudimeans for controlling the setting movement of nally ofthe reciprocation of the cam head, said the cams according to the direction of movement paths of control being equal in length.

of the cam head to control the stitch sizes, said means having difierent' operative positions for BENJAMIN LIPPMAN. the respective cams so that the path of control JULIUS LIPPMAN. 

